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Scioto River: Genesis, to Terminus
I was up in Hardin County, Ohio yesterday, seeking an unusual orchid. Success on that, and perhaps I'll write about it later. Especially as we found dozens of a cool moth pollinating the flowers, and...
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Nature: Lady's tresses are a beautiful Ohio orchid
Shining lady's tresses at Myeerah Nature Preserve/Jim McCormacNature: Lady's tresses are a beautiful Ohio orchidColumbus DispatchJune 21, 2020NATUREJim McCormacWhen one thinks orchids, thoughts might...
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Tubercled Rein Orchid, moths, and ecology
The greenish-white flowering spikes of tubercled rein orchid, Platanthera flava, arise among its thick strap-like leaves. Overall, this is an uncommon to rare orchid with isolated colonies. And it...
View ArticleJim McCormac Photography. Finally, my photo website is live!
Over the years, I have amassed a mountain of natural history photos (and other subjects, too). For some time, I've been dreaming of creating a website to showcase these images - and perhaps sell some,...
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Black Cohosh, caterpillars, and ants
A can't miss plant of late June and early July, the black cohosh, Actaea racemosa. This robust member of the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae) grows in the shady understory of rich woods, and were it a...
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Tan Jumping Spider
I walked out in the garage earlier this morning, and there was this beautiful female Tan Jumping Spider, Platycryptus undatus, on the wall. A quick photo shoot was in order, and she didn't mind, often...
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Nature: Fascinating book speaks volumes about birds
NATURE: Fascinating book speaks volumes about birdsColumbus DispatchJuly 5, 2020“Bird is the Word: An Historical Perspective on the Names of North American Birds” (McDonald & Woodward; 437 pages,...
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A mothing night at Daughmer Savanna
A clear, starry night over Daughmer Savanna in north-central Ohio's Crawford County. This state nature preserve is probably the premier savanna remaining in Ohio. It is ably managed by the Crawford...
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House Centipede hunts, kills
A Lesser Maple Spanworm, Macaria pustularia, as seen from below. Moths sometimes alight on my front door windows, allowing for shots like this. I have a hard enough time identifying many moths from...
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A flashy sunset, but a blocked comet
The view from the summit of Alum Creek Dam in Delaware County, Ohio, shortly after sunset. It's a lofty perch up there - 106 step staircase to the top! - and offers a commanding northern view. I was...
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Hedge-bindweed, Calystegia sepium
Often derided as a "weed", the gorgeous Hedge-bindweed, Calystegia sepium, is a showy member of the Morning-glory family (Convolvulaceae). It grows in local profusion on my backyard fence. I finally...
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Nature: Hellgrammites, dobsonflies both fearful, fascinating
A male dobsonfly displays its formidable mandibles/Jim McCormac(additional image at end of column)Columbus DispatchJuly 19, 2020NATUREJim McCormacOne of our strangest insects begins life in largish,...
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An incredible mothing night
An extremely productive moth sheet hangs from the side of a barn in Highland County, Ohio. The purplish light to the left is a UV (blacklight), and the big one towards the center of the sheet is a...
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An incredible mothing night: Part II
Picking up where I left off in the last post - mothing at the Highlands Nature Sanctuary in Highland County, Ohio - here's another apparent dead leaf mimic, the White-dotted Prominent, Nadata gibbosa....
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American Woodcock, and Willow Flycatcher
As this blog's title does have birds in it, and the feathered crowd has been absentee here for some time, I thought it high time to rectify that situation.Mainly, though, I just wanted to go out and...
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Nature: Rare glimpse at kingfishers offers insight into species
A juvenile belted kingfisher peers from its nest burrow/Jim McCormacNature: Rare glimpse at kingfishers offers insight into speciesColumbus DispatchAugust 2, 2020NATUREJim McCormacLiving the fishy life...
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Interesting moths and cats of late
A gorgeous Trumpet Vine Sphinx, Paratraea plebeja, rests atop a flower of its host plant, Trumpet-creeper, Campsis radicans. Occasionally I'll throw up a mercury vapor light and UV (black light) in the...
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Another major nocturnal outing, more cool bugs
Last Saturday evening, stretching into Sunday morning, was yet another amazing nocturnal foray. This time we set up lights at an incredible place in southern Highland County, known as Fort Hill. It is...
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A light in the dark of night lures exciting moth species
Clockwise, from lower left: tuliptree silkmoth, regal moth, Luna moth and imperial moth [JIM MCCORMAC]A light in the dark of night lures exciting moth speciesColumbus DispatchAugust 16, 2020NATUREJim...
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Masked bandidos stage a raid
This was the scene at my main bird feeder the other night. Not one, not two, but three yearling raccoons helping themselves to my seed. Their mom taught them to do this. Earlier in the year, when these...
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